Dear Translator | |
---|---|
Also known as | The Interpreter Les Interpretes |
Genre |
Workplace Romance |
Created by | Miao Juan |
Written by | Hong Jinghui Ying Yang |
Directed by | Wang Ying |
Starring |
Yang Mi Huang Xuan |
Opening theme | "My Dear" by Tan Weiwei |
Ending theme | "Running Snail" by Huang Xuan |
Country of origin | China |
Original language(s) | Mandarin |
No. of episodes | 42, 44 (TV version) |
Production | |
Producer(s) | Zhao Yifang Gao Fei Zeng Jia |
Location(s) | Shanghai, Suzhou, Hengchuan, Lausanne, Zürich |
Running time | 45 mins |
Production company(s) | Croton Media LeECO Jaywalk Studio |
Distributor | Croton Media |
Release | |
Original network | Hunan TV |
Picture format | HDTV 1080i, SDTV 576i |
Audio format | Stereophonic |
Original release | May 24 | – June 19, 2016
Dear Translator (Chinese: 亲爱的翻译官) is a 2016 Chinese television series starring Yang Mi and Huang Xuan, based on the novel Translator by Miao Juan. It aired on Hunan TV from May 24, 2016 to June 19, 2016. The series is the highest rated drama of the year, with an average national viewership rating of 2.63%.
Qiao Fei, a university student majoring in French studies, has aspired to become a translator since she was young. While avoiding her ex-boyfriend Gao Jiaming, she chances upon Cheng Jiayang, a professional French translator. The next day, she finds out that Jia Yang is actually her examiner. Though the two start their mentorship on the wrong foot, Qiao Fei earns his praise when she continuously overcomes his challenges and the two slowly but surely develop feelings towards each other. When everything seems to be going smoothly, problems arise one after another. The reappearance of Jiaming causes misunderstandings and jealousy between Qiao Fei and Jiayang, and the two eventually break up. Qiao Fei leaves her hometown to further her studies in the French language, while Jiayang focuses on advancing his career. The two meet again after realizing their respective goals, and rekindle their love.
The series is a commercial hit in China. Its premiere achieved a national viewer rating share of 6.87%, and topped 2016's overall market share for the first half of the year. Viewership ratings also reached as high as 2%, becoming the highest rated drama of 2016. The topic "Dear Translator" (亲爱的翻译官) attracted over a billion readers within five days. On the online video platforms Mango TV (芒果TV) and LeTV (乐视电视), the series has received more than 100 million views. On the Asian TV drama platform Viki, the series was rated 9.3 out of 10.
It also earned praises from Martin Dahinden (Switzerland ambassador). The series was coincidentally filmed during the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China–Switzerland relations, and earned the support of Switzerland Tourism Board.
Nonetheless, the series also received criticism. Loyal fans stated that the television series did not stay true to the original novel. Professional interpreters have also taken against it, slamming it for inaccuracies and for portraying the profession misleadingly.
A sequel titled The Negotiator is currently in production, and has cast Yang Mi and Huang Zitao as leads. It has been reported that the sequel will not have any correlation to the current drama.